Alan Ladd
Alan Walbridge Ladd (September 3, 1913 – January 29, 1964) was an American actor and producer known for his cool, understated screen presence and his defining roles in 1940s and 1950s film noir and Westerns. Standing 5 ft 6 in (168 cm), Ladd became famous for the contrast between his modest height and his commanding on‑screen persona, a combination studios often enhanced through camera techniques and staging. He was frequently paired with Veronica Lake, one of the few major actresses shorter than he was, and together they became one of Hollywood’s iconic noir duos.
Born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Ladd moved to North Hollywood as a child and worked various jobs before entering the film industry. After years of small roles — including an uncredited appearance in Citizen Kane — he achieved stardom with This Gun for Hire (1942). His quiet intensity and stoic charm resonated strongly with wartime audiences, making him one of the decade’s top box‑office draws.
Ladd went on to star in a series of successful films, including The Glass Key (1942), The Blue Dahlia (1946), Whispering Smith (1948), Shane (1953), and The Proud Rebel (1958). Though his popularity declined somewhat in the late 1950s, he continued to work steadily in both film and television and produced several of his later projects.
Ladd died in 1964 at the age of 50 from cerebral edema caused by acute alcohol and barbiturate intoxication, which was ruled an accidental death. Despite his relatively short life, he remains a defining figure of classic Hollywood — a performer whose quiet strength, distinctive presence, and memorable roles continue to influence the Western and noir genres.
Acting
Movie
Citizen Kane
as Reporter Smoking Pipe at End (uncredited)
1941
Movie
Shane
as Shane
1953
Movie
Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid
as (in "This Gun For Hire") (archive footage)
1982
Movie
This Gun for Hire
as Philip Raven
1942
Movie
The Blue Dahlia
as Johnny Morrison
1946
Movie
The Reluctant Dragon
as Baby Weems Storyboard Artist
1941
Movie
The Glass Key
as Ed Beaumont
1942
Movie
My Favorite Brunette
as Sam McCloud (uncredited)
1947
Movie
The Proud Rebel
as John Chandler
1958
Movie
The Badlanders
as Peter Van Hoek (The Dutchman)
1958
Movie
The Black Cat
as Richard Hartley
1941
Movie
Great Guns
as Soldier in Photo Shop (uncredited)
1941
Movie
The Carpetbaggers
as Nevada Smith
1964
Movie
Boy on a Dolphin
as Dr. James 'Jim' Calder
1957
Movie
Drum Beat
as Johnny MacKay
1954
Movie
Appointment with Danger
as Al Goddard
1950
Movie
Branded
as Choya
1950
Movie
Whispering Smith
as Whispering Smith
1948
Movie
The Great Gatsby
as Jay Gatsby
1949
Movie
Saskatchewan
as Thomas O'Rourke
1954
Movie
Botany Bay
as Hugh Tallant
1952
Movie
Red Mountain
as Capt. Brett Sherwood
1951
Movie
One Foot in Hell
as Mitch Barrett
1960
Movie
Calcutta
as Neale Gordon
1946
